Egg candling apparatus



July 9,'1946. E. BRAMsoN 2,403,705

EGG GAMBLING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 16, 1942 t r4 Sheets-Sheet'l 1,0 1.@ 14 5g371 i Q6 l N VEN TOR.

July 9, 1946. E. BRAMsoN EGG CANDLNG APPARATUS Filed new. 1e. 1942 '4 sheets-sheet 2 July 9, 1946.

E. BRAMsoN EGG CANDLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheef 4 Filed Dec. 16, 1942 l lNyENTolL l BY @f 5mm Patented July 9; 1946 UNITEDgSTArEs PATEN 'r OFFICE EGeeA-NDLING APPARATUS Ely Bramson; ...Chicagm Ill., assigner ktorllhe Bramson Manufacturing Co., Chicago, Ill.',r`a

corporation'of Illinois Application December-16, 1942; serial No. 465x207 l illuminated by light passing throughthe egg-s,

the operation being best conducted in ay dark-V ened room with the use of apparatus for holding the eggs sothat light from the illuminatingsource passes through theeggs-but not around them. A number of apparatus for this purpose havebeenknown. v

Eggs are tested by candling for determination of their condition, and characteristics in accordance` with which the eggs may be graded and se-` lected or rejected for particular purposes. Good eggs are relatively translucenawhile bad ones are comparatively opaque. tially affected by decomposition,V asV in instances of small black rots, blood .rots and blood v rings,

will in illuminated condition reveal thefaiect'ed.

portions as darkened patches or circles. Air cells in merchantable eggs not strictly fresh will appearin the illuminated eggs as light rings. Imperfections in egg shells such as pin holes, line cracks or ssures and weak formations which would allow air to enter the eggs and cause deterioration, are readily discernible inthe illuminated eggs.

For accurate testing it is often not enough to observe the eggs in illuminated condition from one end only. It is desirable for most ecient candling to examine the eggs in illuminated con--` dition from different aspects and especially from opposite ends or while held during a second examination in inverted or reverseposition relative to that in which they were held for the rst f examination. l

By imparting motion to the eggs immediately before examining them in illuminated condition, a candler or inspector is enabled to determine whether the eggs possess thel highly desirable characteristic of mobility of the yolkswithin the Whites, which is indicative of excellence if they eggs are otherwise perfect, whereas lack ofsuch mobility due to clinging of the yolks to thel shells indicates a defect. y,

Candling is extensively practiced in connection with the selecting and grading of. eggs for merchandizing andthe selecting of eggs lor special purposes as in egg-processing plants and cold storage plants. Also in hatcheries eggs after partial incubation aretested by candling for presence or absence of live embryo-s, sorthat those which after partial incubation are found to be Eggs incipiently or par-v 2V unfertile may thrown fertile eggs.V d y v In view of the extensive candling necessary in many plants, an object of the present invention 5 is to provide improved apparatus such 'that by easily `and rapidly perforrriable operations eggs can. be expeditiously candledin quantity lots, more specifically in filler-lots comprising layers v dof eggs taken as units -from` eggcrates or commercial shipping cases; and, in view ofthe imout and replacedA by partance of accurate testing,- yan object 0f the' invention is tozprovide-y apparatus ofvsuch character and facilitiesv as tol-promote. both expeditious and highly efficient candling, more specifically by handling the eggs in a manner to move them eifectively just prior to Vtheir examination inilluminated condition and enabling them to be easily twice candled, rst while standing onv Vend one way land then while inverted or'in reverse position relative tothat inwhich they were iirst presented for candling. y 1 Furthery objects -are to provide apparatuswof practicable and eiiicient construction and mode of operation and of relatively simple character;

tov provide apparatus to enable two persons ystanding at its opposite sides; to candle simultaneously different lots of eggs and to cooperate in candling both lots; to provide apparatus praticable for receiving and handling in iiller lots eggs supplied in crates in which the superposed' layers of eggs are separated by either embossed or unembossed paper board flats; to provide a constructiony in which parts'necessar'y to be cleansed from time to time are convenientlyremovable for cleansing; to provide structural features of advantage in the manufacture of the apparatus; and to provide in apparatus of the type herein disclosed, wherein two trays are utilized cooperatively and alternatively for holding the eggs for lcandling, means for automatically controlling the electric lamp or lamps employed for illuminating purposes so as to avoid illumination and consumption of currentat undesired times but to the trays is in position for candling.

The inventionwill be best understood by ref,- erencel to an illustrative embodiment of the several vfeatures thereof, shown in thel accompanying drawings wherein: y v s, -Fig. l is aside View of an egg candling apparatus of one practicable construction embodying theinvention.. Y

Fig. 2 ,isa top plan view 0f the .illustrative apparatus.. with end portions thereof broken away,I

give :illumination whenever and while either of the omitted portons being table end portions of the cabinet of the apparatus.

Figs. 3 to 6 are longitudinal vertical sectional views of a portion of the apparatus in different relative positions of the parts thereof, Fig. 3 showing the apparatus in readiness for positioning the eggs for candling; Fig. 4 showing the apparatus in position for candling; Fig. 5 showing the apparatus in readiness for a second positioning of the eggs for a second candling; and Fig. 6 showing the apparatus in position for such second candling.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the apparatus with its egg candling trays shown folded together and vertically disposed, parts of the apparatus being broken away to reveal subjacent parts, and the table end portions of its cabinet being broken away.

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figs. 9 and 10 are views showing in its opposite extreme positions the carriage for the egg candling trays, said carriage and trays folded one upon the other being shown in these figures in side elevation and the supporting portion of the structure being in longitudinal vertical section.

Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram for the electrical equipment of the apparatus.

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view showing the manner of removably mounting a lens holder embodied in the illustrative apparatus, said lens holder being shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

Fig. 13 is a detail view of one of the limit switches shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

In the drawings, I denotes a long cabinet-like stand or support. hereinafter referred to as the cabinet, containing illuminating equipment in its intermediate portion, over which is mounted the movable egg handling portion of the apparatus. This cabinet is constructed to provide at opposite ends of its intermediate portion a pair of low tables 2 and 3, one of which may serve as av receiving table for crates from which the eggs are to be removed in ller lots for candling, and the other of which may support other crates or receptacles in which selected candled eggs may be packed or deposited. Removably aflixed table end extensions are indicated at 4. Open shelves 5 in the table portions of the cabinet may sunport pans or receptacles for spoiled or defective eggs rejected in candling.

The opposite side walls of the cabinet have intermediate raised portions B supporting a pair of longitudinally disposed rails I. Riding on these rails is a longitudinally shiftable carriage 8 mounted for easy motion on ball bearings as indicated at 9 in Fig. 8. The carriage supportsa pair of trays I (i and II either of which may receive the eggs to be candled and the two of which are utilized cooperatively and alternatively for holding the eggs for candling. as. for example, in the manner illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6. By oppositely shifting the carriage, the trays when resting directly thereon may be brought alternately to position for candling, i. e. with their light apertures in registration with subiaoent illuminating means represented in this instance by a multiplicity of light condensing lenses .I2 of the same number and arrangement as the light apertures in each of the trays, through which lenses light is transmitted from illuminating means below them.

The trays IU and I I are represented as shallow receptacles comprising rectangular frames hav-l ing supporting ledges for bottom members which 4 are readily removable for cleansing. An individual tray bottom member may comprise a plate I3 of Bakelite or other suitable material having adhesively afiixed to its upper side a rub ber mat I4, said plate and rubber mat having registering openings for passage of light and the rubber mat being formed around the openings with raised bosses I5 providing annular seats on which the eggs can stand on end. Being circular and of opaque cushioning material, the egg seats support the eggs so that light from below will pass up through the eggs but not around them.

To prevent dislocation of the removable tray bottoms when the trays I and II are inverted, the Bakelite plates I3 are fitted tightly in the tray frames and each of said plates has one edge rounded and fitted in a slight groove therefor in the trayY frame, as indicated at I3a in Fig. 8; the construction being such that the removable tray bottom members have to be forced into place and have to be forcibly displaced to remove them for cleaning. Y

Normally supported in horizontal pOsition as in Fig. 1, the trays I0 and II are swingabl.7 mounted for movement about an axis transverse of the direction of travel of the carriage, being so mounted that either tray can be swung to an inverted position upon the other and the two in folded relation can be swung together to an upside down position and back to a re-inverted position, as will be apparent from Figs. 3 to 6. As shown, the trays are swingably mounted for the motions aforesaid by suitably hinging them together by hinges I6, the pintles II of which are attached to and carried by small standards I8 fixed to the carriage 8. Handles .by which the trays can be swung are indicated at I9. The number and arrangement ofthe light apertures and egg lseats of the trays are the same in both trays, and when the trays are one over the other or in folded relation the egg seats of the one face.

those of the other, the confronting egg seats being then adjacent to opposite ends of the eggs encased by the trays.

Referring to the tray handles I9, attention is invited to an incidental feature of important advantage in that the handles of the two trays at either side of the longitudinal center can be gripped as one when the trays are in folded relation and utilized for swinging the folded trays together to inverted position without danger of hurting ones hand or lingers between the h'andles and tray frames. These handles, attached to the tray frames at their swinging ends, are ofthe type comprising straight hand grip portions arranged longitudinally of the swinging ends of the tray frames and separated therefrom by attaching arms integral with said hand grip portions. Now if the hand grip portions of the cooperating pair of handles at either side of the longitudinal center of the trays were substantially spaced apart when the trays are in folded relation, then a person inserting his hand or fingers between the handles and trays and grasping the handles of the two trays would be liable to have his hand or fingers caught and crushed or hurt a and possibly broken in the operation of swinging the folded trays together to an inverted position. By forming the h'andles as shown so that when the two trays are folded together the hand grip portions of the cooperative handles come together and can be gripped as one handle, the dinlculty referred to is avoided.

To enable two poresons standing at opposite sides of the apparatus to candle simultaneously different ller lots of eggs, and also to cooperate with each other in the candlingV of both lots,

the trays I8 and II are each of a capacity tohold such different lots. As shown the trays are partioned each into two compartments at opposite sides of the longitudinal ,center of the apparatus. Each compartment is adapted to receive as` a unit a filler 1ct or layer of eggs inl assembly with its paper board filler and underlying paper board iiat. Standard crates have the eggs packed in each compartment thereof in layers of threeY dozen eggesV per layer. In this connection it will be observed that the numberand arrangement, of the egg seats in eachA compartment of each of the trays Il). and II- correspondy to the number and arrangement of" eggs ofA a layer in a crate compartment, the egg seats of each tray coi-rmartmentV being disposed to hold the eggs in substantially the same spaced relationship as in th'e crate.

It will be readily apparent that the capacity of the illustrative apparatus could be doubled by forming each of the trays Hi and I I with four instead of two compartments, arranged two at each side of the longitudinal center of the tray, and correspondingly doubling the number of illuminatingf lenses I 2I and providing appropriate additional illuminatingl means below-the added number of lenses. apparatus could'be doubled without altering the illuminating equipment or increasing the number of lenses, by doubling the number of tray compartments as above indicatedk and providing for a correspondingly greater travel of the carriage 8 and making appropriate provision for positioning the respective pairs of tray compartments, i. e. the compartments spaced from others by the transverse partitions, and for obtaining illumination during any such positioning or while eith'er of the two pairs of tray, compartments of either tray is positioned for the candlingof the eggs supported thereon.

The carriage 8 or" the illustrative apparatus is represented as a horizontal frame resembling a window sash with subdivisions or compartments corresponding to those of the trays and in which are glass panes` 2t removably supported to permit them to be taken out for cleansing (Figs. 3J and 8). These glass panes will catch any drippings from cracked or broken eggs `on the trays and prevent such drippings and dust or dirt from falling through the trays upon the subiacent lenses So also the capacity of the 6 i compartmentsy canbeeasily positioned with the whole group of lenses in proper place.l

The manner of mounting the lens' holding members 2l Vwill be understood by reference to Figs.- 3,4 r7, 8, 9, 10, and 12, wherein 23 and 24 designate wood cross bars connecting the sidewalls of the cabinet and rabbeted to form supporting ledgesfor said'menibers or having alxed bottom strips 23e and sa arranged to form such ledges. The two lens holding members 2! arranged at opposite sidesof the longitudinal center of the apparatm and abutting edge to edge as shown in Figure 8, are fitted within the rectanguvlar space formed between said cross bars 23, 24

and; side-walls of the cabinet, said members 2l resting on said supporting ledges whichaswill kbe observed, are transverse of the direction of travel of the carriage 8. The left hand cross bar 23 in Fig. 3v is rabbeted to 4form a groove at `2t. As will I be apparent from Fig. 12, the members 2l can be inserted from the right by moving then longitudinally to th'e left while tilting them to clear the cross bar 24 and inserting their left; hand ends or edges into the groove 26;- after which said members 2l can be moved to horizontal position between the cross bars 23 and 24 and withdrawn from the groove 26 and then allowed to drop down between the cross bars 23 and 24 upon kthe supporting ledges therefor. By thev reverse of this operation, said members 2I can be extracted and removed from the apparatus to permit cleansing v same conditions one can put his hand under and press up the members 2 I, move them to the left to insert their left hand ends into the groove 26, then let them tilt so that their right hand ends vwill dro-p down and clear the supporting ledge of the cross bar 24, as shown in Fig. l2, and then v withdraw them from the apparatus.

half of the whole number of lenses arranged in accordance with the egg seats of a tray compartment. An individual lens holding member comprises a plate of Bakelite or other suitable material having the lenses tted in counter-bored openings in said plate and retained by a thin plate 22 of similar material superimposed on and rigidly fixed to said first mentioned plate and having openings in registration with those in said first mentioned plate, the edges or peripheral portions of the lenses being secured by and between the two plates. These lens holding members 2l, which are insertable in proper position in the apparatus and removable therefrom for cleansing, are not only of a, construction advantageous for manufacture but also they provide very convenient means whereby groups of lenses corresponding to the groups of egg seats in the egg tray coy The lensl holding members 2| together with the lenses I2V mounted in the light apertures thereof form the medial portionof the ceiling of a, light chamber within which is suitable illuminating equipment represented by a plurality of electric lamps 3D, preferably of the iiood type, which lamps arev indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 7. By means hereinafter described, the electric lamps may be controlled to give illumination only when the carriage is in a position for holding one or the other of the two trays I0 and I I in position for candling or with its light apertures in registration with the lenses I2.

,'Forrcarrying off heat generated by the lamps, air is forced through the light chamber by electrically operated blowers 3l arranged to take in room air .from under the cabinet or laterally from open-bottomed air ducts in the cabinet and to blow the air over the lamps, the air discharging from theli'ght chamber through the large open-r vopposite sides thereof to candle. simultaneously different filler lots of eggs, which lots are to be taken as units from cratesand put into one or the other of the two trays I@ and Il, either of which may serve as the receiving tray. In this instance there are shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in the compartments of the tray IG, such filler lots of eggs 35, each such lot being in assembly with its paper board filler 36 and underlying paper board flat 31, all as in a layer in a crate compartment.

The paper board flats used in egg crates are commonly but not always of the embossed type shown at 31 in Fig. 3. An advantage of such ernbossed flats is that after lifting out a paper board filler from the crate the layer of eggs left standing on end on the cup-like seats of the underlying flat can be picked up as a unit and lifted out of the crate by means of a convenient device hereinafter referred to as an egg lot lifter. Such a device, of which there are several known forms or types used in egg handling plants, comprises a light rectangular frame having a basket type handle and egg engaging means within the frame. After a paperboard ller has been removed from a crate, the device can be let down in the crate with its frame enclosing the layer of eggs and, by manipulation of an actuating means, will engage and hold the eggs in their proper spaced relationship. The device with thel layer of eggs retentively held by it canrthen be lifted out from the crate, and, by manipulation of its actuating means, will be caused to release the eggs. The device may therefore be used for lifting a layer of eggs from a crate and releasing them into the compartments of a filler in another crate o1' into pockets in egg candling apparatus or into a receptacle. In short it is a convenient transfer device for a layer or filler lot of eggs. But the device cannot be used for removing eggs from crates using unembossed flats, for the reason that upon removal of a llerfrom the layer of eggs resting on an unembossed flat the eggs will immediately tumble over on their sides and become disarranged. Hence an egg handling apparatus which would require or depend upon the use of an egg lot lifter for depositing the layers of eggs in the apparatus would not be practicable for use for candling eggs supplied, as they often are, in crates in which the layers are separated by unembossed flats; for in that case there would be no way of putting the eggs into the apparatus except one at a time by band. which obviously would be quite impractical and defeat the purpose of expeditious handling of ythe eggs in ller lots, On the other hand it is often desirable to use an egg lot lifter for transferring Vlayers of eggs from crates to candling apparatus, and a candling apparatus that would exclude the use of the egg lot lifter for that purpose would accordingly be somewhat limited in its utility. Now an advantage of the illustrative apparatus is that while it permits it does not require or depend upon the use of an egg lot lifter for depositing the layers of eggs in the apparatus, but is adapted to receive layers of eggs in assembly with their paper board nllers and flats, and hence is quite practicable for expeditious candling in filler lots of eggs supplied in crates in which the superposed layers of eggs are separated by either embossed or unembossed flats. In vthis connection, use may be made of any of the known expedients of the egg handling art for removing from crates layers of eggs with their associated fillers and flats, as unit assemblies, and for placing them as such in tray compartments of the illustrative candling apparatus.

The apparatus permits operations such as the following. Assume for example that the tray Il) is being used as a receiving tray, in the compartments of which have been placed filler lots of eggs in this instance in assembly with their paper board nllers 38 and underlying paper board ilats 31. The second tray Il is now swung over and upon the tray I0, as in full lines in Fig. 3, whereupon the two trays are swung together to the upside downposition indicated in dotted lines in said figure. The swinging of the trays in folded relation to the right from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 to the dotted line position shifts the freely movable carriage 8 to the left. The iirst tray I0 is then swung off from-the second tray l l and back to its normal horizontal position on the carriage, leaving the eggs',fii1lers and ilats supported on the tray Il, the eggs standing on the seats therefor in said tray Il and the paper board flats lying over the eggs. The flats are now removed. If the carriage 8 is not already in position for registering the light apertures of the egg holding tray il with the subjacent lenses i2, it is easily shifted by very slight effort to effect `such registration, whereupon the apparatus is ready for candling, in the relative positions of the parts shown in Fig. 4. The eggs are now candled by examining them in illuminated condition within the compartments of the fillers. Such examination in the fillers is advantageous as it permits the eggs to be observed each illuminated by the light passing through it without interference by diused light from adjacent eggs. A further advantage is that the illumination of the eggs while within the llers shows off well their relative sizes, and thus candling in the fillers facilitates sorting as to sizes.

After this rst candling, the tray I0 is swung over and upon the tray ll, as in full lines in Fig. whereupon the two trays are swung together to the reinverted position indicated in dotted lines in said figure. The swinging of the two trays in folded relation to the left from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5 to the dotted line position shifts the carriage to the right. The tray ll is now swung off from the tray lil to its normal horizontal position on the carriage, leaving the eggs and fillers supported on the tray I0. Assuming the carriage to have been shifted to position for registration of the light apertures of said tray lll with the subjacent lenses I2, the apparatus is ready for a second candling of the eggs, with the parts in the relative positions shown in Fig. 6; the eggs now however being inverted relative to the position in which they were presented for the first candling, or standing on the opposite ends from those on which they stood during the first candling. Again the eggs are candled while in their filler compartments, after which the llers may be lifted out from the compartments of the tray l0 and the eggs may then be given a nal observation while outside of the fillers. In this final examination of the eggs out of the fillers the illuminated eggs may be observed by both operators standing at the opposite sides of the apparatus, so that in candling the eggs they may be viewed from both sides, the two operators cooperating, which greatly facilitates the expeditious and thorough candling of the eggs.

Eggs found by the candling to be defective or rejectable may be picked out from the ller lots in the apparatus and replaced by other satisfac- II),` the filler lots of eggs'fleft standing in proper 10- spaced" relationshipy on the egg seats: ofsaidl tray can be lifted out as units bymeanseo-f egg-l lotflifters such asliave beenfdescr-ihed; andi can be transferred 'by such Alifters toA filler compartimentsfin another crate' or into a receptacle or"A 15' elsewhere as ldesiredl4 If' desired to remove' from the A apparatilsf the# ller lots i' of? egg'sin'- assembly l with their Aiillers and flats arranged aswhenlfl'rst introducedint'o 'Y the apparatus; this lmayi be accomplished the 20 following manner. The' llers aref replaced!" in association vwithfthey lot'slloff eggs "standingin-ithe compartments of the tray'l 0i'- Tl'ie t'ra'ylI Iis thenswung-over1 andupon-thel tray I0, and? the;tw-o trays are swung'ltogeth'erto' thelposition' showniiil 25 full linesin Fig;- 5,5 thus-transferringthe' eggsand llers'to :the 'tray I Il. The tray I 01 isl then'i swungl off from the-traylI I, and-"the paperlboar'dilat's are laid over" the i llerf' lotsof eggs ini the trayA I Il The tray: I Ilis'fthenlrepla'ced over the-tray? IIE 30 asin .full lines in Figl.1.5,=- andthetwo `tr-'aysfa-re swung'together to thef reinverted position shown ini full linesin Fig-3; whereupon the Atray -I I fisv swung :ol fromth'e'lftray I 0: This -leaves Ion- .the tray Inl the 'flfller' lots ofi eg'gsfinl assemblyf with@ 35 their paper board. llersland: atsarrangedr exfactlyfasi'whenv they: were ii'rst'i put? intoi said. tray; thei eggs: .being 'in .their Jrespective ller fcompa'rte mentsan'distanding smallen'ds down onf the cup like'- seats thereforI formedb'y' the`- emloossm'entsfy 40 of theremliossedfpaperl boardi-lat's underlying'ithe f eggs:l v

Tofacilitate removal? from' the t'a'yS-Hoff'tlellerg lots off eggs -in assembly with' their ll'ers and underlying flats, thetrayl fra'irleslmaybe45 formed" preferably' at ldiagonall'yf opposite cornerswith l cut-awayy portions= as indicated 'f at -v I IlL '.and' I IeiinlFig; 2 'and ini dotted'lines-in Fig-E 8; towpro` vide f room forinsertion off-the lngers'funderf the corners c-ffthe ats- Obviously tlietray frames 50" couldf be' -variously formed witlifopenings to -permit`{insertion` ofl the -i`1'ngers'-under"y the i'latslzatnclfh lifting-them* with the" eggs and llers@thereon v` out '-from the trayY compartments; or sideoriend'y walls" of' tray compartments lcould lbe -omittedfso l- 55 as -to permit insertion of flat scoops under" the flats-andi the liftingA outfromthe -tray"compa'rt'" ments=` of the units-Y comprising; the rlllerVv ltsrof eggs, their fillers and underlying flats. It isalsofv contemplated thatV in e apparatusembodying v.the 6U invention the trays willbe' formed with their innerwallsfflaring'fito VVprovide room for insertion of-therfingerssunder the flatsi g The apparatus may also beused withfeggdotf lifters-for transferring the eggs I#frorr'L-cratcsto'f65" the' apparatus, if the-.layerslof' eggs inthe fcrates are separated by-embossedflatss- When usingthef apparatus in this `manner', fillers? removd""fi'om'Y crate compartments are' 'rstf put-into they compartments-of one of the' traysgsay the tray- III;y 70' The vlayers of eggsv left stand-ing in the` crate-foam'- partinents onI the embossed Yseats Lof "thev underl lying kilats arethen lifted lout bythe ege lotlift'ers v andreleased? `theref'ro'ml into thefllers bntheftra-yf vairo'swot" therefor at the bottoms o'ff thel trayY compartments. The carriage-being positioned'forreg'- isteringfthe lightapertures `oftra-y Y I 0 with the subjacentllenses, the eggslareenow candledwhile in their filler" compartments. VAfter thisz rst candling, the' tra-y-l II is'swfun'gover anduponthe` tray' I 0i;- andithe Itwo traysYare lswung together toiV upside downs position, thus transferringthe eg-gs and fillers toithev tray I'I; whereupon-the tray.- Ill-Tis; swung off'.- The' carriageb'eing-f posi;v tioned fori registration" of the` liglft apertures'A of? trayl II with? the' subjacent lenses, 1;he eggs,.-n'owfV standing 'upside down orinverted relativer' tiofthe.- positioniri which they were/'presented for. the! first can'dling, arenagainzcandled'while inxtheir': fillerY compartments;l after'- which the fillers 'mayi belifted from thefeggs topermit them'v to :be final;V

1yl observed in il'lminated conditio while outfsofil theflle'rs;v Tnelflllerrlotsrof eggsv mayth'en bei y lift'edl outffrcmthetray f I I f by; egg flot llfters'. andil depositedor;` transf erredias desired.:4

So: the eggs to2. be? candled may. 'beftran'sferredr of theapparatusiwith the`use: of :'eggo-lotlifters iii?V theflats 'between'.the egg layersrin the.. crates aret`- embossed; or'v the;` said"` filler lotsvl of i eggs` irrl assembly'with their llerssandunderlyingzii'atsr may,l be; removed, as units".` from i the;` crates i' and:v placed.' inthe receiving tray. The apparatusis.-

Atherefore practicable ifor: expeditious; candling in filler flots'of Feggs supplied :ins: cratesv in'. which the:

superposed layers arezvsepnrated'by; unemloossedki flats; consisting; of plainla-tf: paper: board sheets', asr well'l asf for suchfexpeditlous candling 'of eggsf supplied in*crat`es-usingfem bossedflats;

said: chamber#l illuminating the egg; so" held, assuming: the apparatus: to fbe used na fd'arkfroom.V As: willrbe readily, understood fromfthe. draw-f ings; .the traysI wand `I I 'arezalternately positioned? for registration off their light/:aperturesffwith the subja'cent-f lenses I2..r by; shifting; the-carriagey 8N 'alternatelyin opposite-directions-.At This is accom'-y plishedk in ya ,highlyfadvantageous:manner inthe illustrative: apparatusinwhich the swinging; ofV thei trays. in 7`folded relatiorrtoward.feitherl end of the;` apparatus to invert fthemrwill -causex the ca'r--` rietgeffreely;v movable onits ballabearings to shifttothe llmitiof'fits'travelfirr thegopposite direction,.

therebyfbringing'ito' positionfor :such'fregistr'ation the; traywhichisinormal-lythe imoreirem-otee from'r i the end-limit-o travel towardrwhi-ch the-carriage shifted: Such tr'ayfwilllbe. referredtoPas-the ren motel tray; namely; thetl one more: remote:` from'.: an end limit offtravelfwhenxthevtwoftrayslief.' side"by'side 'ont the. carriage as .mili-ligt'. 1;. Thus: in Fig: 1l the tray- IUftiSztheLrem'OteJtrayiwithareespectz tof therighlxV lia'n'cliz limit oil travel ol? the? carriage andrtneftraylfl nI I isi-the:- remotestrayiwith; respectA to" the: left" hand limit. ofi. travels. oiv the: carriage;

Tue-frenare of the.' invention-1. last -referred f tof will? be leest'understood"-loyl reference to Figs.'9fand 10. Consider,` fori eXamplfe;\that"-the apparatus agshownainzf Eigse `QI and lois lbeing.iusedr-for: the

serie's -of "operationshereinloefore described-- with reference'E to-4 Figs".VVL 3i to 6.'Y Fig.v 9-r showsd the ap'-l paratus-J withS4 the parts-l in'v the relationship ase -Y l0; theE eggs dropping-f upon; thecushion seatsY 75" thefup'sidedwnfpositiorl/indcatedifdtted lines,A

in Fig. 3. Referring now tolFig. 9,.when theV two trays were supported on the left hand half of the carriagewith the tray H atop of the other, the carriage was in its extreme right hand position. As the trays were swung together toward the right from a `position on the left hand half of the carriage to the vertically disposed mid position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9, the thrust of the trays on the carriage held it in its extreme right hand position, but as the trays were swung from said dotted line mid position to that shown in full lines in Fig. 9, the thrust of the trays against the carriage forced it to its eXtreme left hand position as shown in Fig. 9. Now if the two trays are swung together toward the left from the position shown in Fig. 9, the thrust of the trays against the carriage, -as the trays swing to the mid-position indicated in dotted lines, will hold the carriage in its extreme left hand position; but as the trays are swung past such mid position to a reinverted position on the left hand half of the carriage the thrust of the trays against the carriage will force it to its extreme right hand position as shown in Fig. 10. Thus in swinging the folded trays from one to the other of the positions shown'in Figs. 9 and 10, the carriage is forced to the extreme limit of its travel in the opposite direction; and, as before stated, the shifting of the carriage to either of its limits of travel brings the .tray normally remote from such limit to position for registration of its light apertures with the subjacent lenses.

It will be appreciated therefore that the operations of folding, unfolding and swinging the folded trays, with accompanying shifting of the carriage, are very easily and quickly performable; so that, in the use of the apparatus, after the ller lots of eggs to be candled have been vplaced in the receiving tray, the operations for transferring and positioning the eggs for candling, or successively transferring and positioning them for successive cancllings, require neither tiring effort nor more thanfa few moments of time. The handling of the trays is especially easy with the illustrative apparatus in which each tray has-only two compartments at opposite sides of its longitudinal center and in which moreover the-trays .by their conveniently located handles i9 'can be swung by two persons standing at opposite sides of the apparatus or by such persons in alternation. Practically speaking, the folding, unfolding and swinging of the folded traysA with their encased contents of eggs is very light work, whether performed by one or two. persons, while the shifting of the carriage is nearly or practically effortless.

To prevent the carriage under the impulse given it by the swinging of the folded trays thereon from moving to its limit of travel at Isuch fast speed as to require sudden stoppage with a` jerk or jar, means are provided presently to be described whereby the carriage as it approaches either of its-limits of travel encountersa gradually` increasing frictional resistance which slows down the movement of the carriage and enables it to stop gently, avoiding objectionable jerking or jarring. The means referred to also imposes a desirable frictional resistance to` movement of the carriage from an extreme position.

In connection with the feature of the invention'whereby the shifting of the carriage in the manner described brings it alternately to positions for registering the light apertures of the I trays in alternation with the individual-illuminators represented by the series of subjacent lenses, means are provided whereby the electric lamps,

the circuit for which maybe maintained normally open, are controllable to give illumination,

switches, by the closing of either of which the normally open lamp circuit can be closed, are operable to close by depression of spring lifted plungers 4I. The springs (notl shown) which uphold these p-lungers offer substantial and in fact considerable resistance to the depressing of the plungers, Said plungers are operable by the levers 42 mounted in the path of the carriage, one on the table 2 and the other on the table 3. The levers are represented as short boards disposed on edge and arranged longitudinally of the apparatus, being pivotallymounted at 43 in brackets 44 and having their levervarms resting on and normally held up by pins 4| a slidable in guides 41h in the tables and resting on the spring lifted plungers 4|. TheV levers have stops 45 for limiting the travel of the carriage 8 and the upper edges of the levers areinclined upwardly toward said stops, said inclined upper edges of the levers being in the path of and slidably engageable by the ends of the carriage AB as it approaches the stops 4,5. It will be apparent that as the carriage approaches either of its limits of travel it encounters a gradually increasing frictional resistance by slidable engagement of its advancing end with the inclined upper edge of the lever 42 in the path of its movement, by which engagement the lever is gradually depressed against the strong resistance of the spring which upholds the corresponding plunger 4I. Thus the movement of the carriage is slowed down, so that it Vcan stop gently, without objectional jerking or jarring. By lthe time the carriage engages the stop 45 of said lever, the plunger is depressed sufficiently to close the corresponding limit switch. Said switch is held closed so long as the plunger is held so sufficiently depressed, that is so long as the carriage remains at its said limit of travel. The pressure of said lever against the underside of the end of the carriage, due to the spring action of the plunger under the lever, imposes a desirable frictional resistance to movement of the carriage from the extreme position to which it has been moved. But as soon as the carriage is moved from such extreme position, the plunger is sufficiently released to allow the limit switch to open.

Thus the lampsy are lit automatically as the carriage reaches either of its positions for holding one or the other of the trays in proper position for the candling of the eggsA thereon; remain litwhile the carriage stays in such a position, and become extinguished the moment the carriage moves from such a DOsition. This gives several decided advantages. First, there is no illumination at all unless the carriage is properly positioned for holding one or the other of the two trays in proper position for candling, i. e.

with its light apertures in exact registrationwith sitioned relative to the' illuminating means.V Second, the illumination is a signal; presence or absence of illumination is an all suiicient indicationas to whether or not the carriage is properlyk positioned vfor candling. So the operator need make no movement or adjustment of the carriage except to obtain light, which he always gets whenever the carriage is against a stop 45. If therefore the tray holding the eggs for candling is apparently in correct position, but without illumination of the eggs, theoperator needs merely by a slight pressure with his hand to move the carriage against the adjacent stop 45, whereupon the eggs will become illuminated. Third, there is no confusing illumination between the periods of candling or examination of the eggs in illuminated condition, and the operators are relieved from having to look down upon illuminated light condensing and projecting lenses, which would be not only disagreeable but also `hurtful to the eyes. `And, lastly, unnecessary consumption of electric current is avoided.

Because of the large amount of heat generated by the plurality of large electric llamps 30 of the ood type, which are desired to give abundant high illuminationit is important that the air blowers 3l should be in operation while the lamps are lit, and desirable that the blowers should operate substantially continuously while the apparatus is in use. A simple andpractical way of accomplishing this is to connect the electric lamps in a branch line from the circuit of the electric motors for operating the air blowers, or in other words to take current for the lamps from the circuit for the motors, thus insuring operation of the blowers whenever the lamps are lit, and,

, 14 switches-65 and '5i (being those contained in the switch boxes Iii? and actuated by the carriage 8) or bythe hand-switch 62 (actuated by. 41 in Fig. 1). The leads of the motor circuit are indicated `at 5l and 52; these may be ordinary insulated ,circuit wires to be plug-connected to outlet terminals from any suitable energizing circuit such for instance as an ordinary house wiring circuit. Closing the hand switch 59 closes a circuit from 5i through the conductors 53 and 54, 'motors 50 and return conductors 55 to 52. The lamps 30 are connected to conductors 55 and 5l, the conductor l.ii'being connectable by the limit switches til and `@il to the motor circuit conductors 53 and 5ft respectively, and the conductor 51 being connectedto one pole of the hand switch 62 the other pole of which is connected by the conductor 58 to the motor circuit conductor 53. When the motor circuit is closed, the lamp circuit can be closed by either of the limit switches SCI and 5I through the conductor 55 or by the hand switch 62A through the conductor 51. Included in circuit with the lamps is the Variable resistance of the rheostat 63 (operable by the dialing knob 48 in Figi. 1) for regulation of li'ght intensity; the adjustable terminal of said rheostat being Connected to the conductors 56 and 51 and the other terminal of said rheostat being connected to the conductors B4 leading to the two banks of lamps from which the conductors 85 lead to one vof, the return conductors 55.

Fig. 12 of the drawings is a sectional view showing the 4manner of mounting or removing the more specifically and advantageously,preventing the lighting of the lamps except when the blowers are in operation.

In Fig. 1 there are'shown at 48 and 41 the iinger pieces for actuating two sna-p type switches, that actuated by 45 being for opening andl closing the circuit of the electrically operated blowers, and that actuated by 4l being for opening and closing the lamp circuit. As aboveindicated, the lamp circuit cannot be. closed unless the circuit for the blowers is closed. Assuming the circuit for the blowers to be closed, the lamp circuit will ordinarily be'left open by the switch actuated by 41. Under the Vlast statedconditions, the klamp circuit will be closed alternately bythe previously mentioned limit switches actuated by the carriage 8, vbut can .be also independently manually closed and vropened .when desired by means of the switch actuated by 41. v

At '48 in Fig. 1 there is sho-wn the dialing rknob of a dial type Yrheos'tat (83 in Fig. l1) included in the lamp circuit-for regulating the intensity of the light, as is desirable to avoid illumination of .the eggs by too intense light, which would render them less satisfactorily examinable than under less intense illumination, and to permit the operator to vary the light intensity t0 suit the particular batch of eggs being candled and to `obtain the light best suited to his individualr eyesight.

A wiring diagram for the electrical equipment of the illustrative apparatus is represented in Fig. ll., wherein the electric motors ,58 for operating the air blowers are.` shown connected in` parallel in a circuit controlled bythe handgswitch 59 (actuated by 45 in Fig. Y1)and the lamps 39' are L shown arranged in two` banksv or groups connect-- able in parallel across the lines ,oi themotor cir-g cuitbyeither of the automaticallyperablelimit removable lens holders 2 I.

The table tops 2 and 3 are each hinged at one longitudinal edge to one of the side walls of the' cabinetl stand, enabling these table tops together with the levers 42 mounted thereon to be swung up out of the way, leaving openings between theV frame members I2L and lb yfor access to the light chamber.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 6, if the intermediate transverse rows of lenses I2 were covered by a removable opaque plate or light shield, so that light would be projected upwardly only through the iirst and last transverse rows of such lenses, then at either limit of travel of the carriage only the rst and last rows of eggs on the tray carrying 'the eggs would be illuminated, and, inasmuch as under such conditions the row lof eggs most remote from such limit would be illuminated, the other rows of eggs could be illuminated in succession by maintaining the lamps lit while moving the carriage stepby step toward its opposite limit of travel. Thus with the use of such a removable light shield the apparatus couldxbe used al1 of the features of the invention be used conjointly, since different features may be advantageously used in various different combinations and subcombinations.

,l claiml as my invention:

combination, a carriage having means whereby a lot of eggs in deiinitespaced relation can be supported for candling alternatively at different Jpositions on the'carriage longitudinally of, its

l. An egg candlingapparatus comprising, in

T direction of travel, said means including means pivotally attached to the carriage and operable for transferring Said lot of eggs from one to the l otherfof said positions and inverting the lot as it is so transferred, means supporting the carriage for movement between two extreme posi-4 tions, means preventing movement of the carriage beyond said extreme positions, the distance through which the carriage is shiftable in opposite directions being sufficient to permit bringing said lot of eggs in either of the positions in which it is alternatively supported on the carriage to a certain position in the path in which the lot is movable by the carriage, and means in fixed relation to said path for illuminating the eggs when the lot is in said certain position.

2. An egg candling apparatus comprising, in combination, a carriage having means whereby a lot of eggs in definite spaced relation can be supported for candling alternatively at diiferent positions on the carriage longitudinally of its direction of travel, said means including means pivotally attached to the carriage and operable for transferring said lot of eggs from one to the other of said positions and inverting the lot as it is so transferred, means supporting the carriage for movement between two extreme positions, means preventing movement of the carriage beyond said extreme positions, the distance through which the carriage is shiftable in opposite directions being sufficient to permit bringing said lot of eggs in either of the positions in which it is alternatively supported on the carriage to a certain position in the path in which the lot is movable by the carriage, means in fixed relation to said path for illuminating the eggs when the lot is in said certain position, and carriage-controlled means controlling said illuminating means to give illumination only when the carriage is in either of its positions for holding said lot of eggs in said certain position.

3. An egg candling apparatus comprising, in combination, a carriage having means whereby a lot of eggs in denite spaced relation can be supported for candling alternatively at different positions on the carriage longitudinally of its direction of travel, said means including means pivotally attached to the carriage and operable for transferring said lot of eggs from one to the other of said positions and inverting th-e lot as it is so transferred, means .supporting the carriage foi` movement between two extreme positions, means preventing movement of the carriage beyond said extreme positions, the distance through which the carriage is shiftable in opposite directions being sufficient to permit bringing said lot of eggs in either of the positions in which it is alternatively supported on the carriage to a certain position in the path in which the lot movable by the carriage, illuminating means in :fixed relation to said path comprising electric lighting equipment for illuminating the eggs when the lot is in such certain position, the electric circuit for said lighting equipment being maintainable normally open, and automatic switch means controlled by said carriage for closing said circuit when the carriage reaches either of its positions for holding the lot of eggs in said certain position and for maintaining the circuit closed while the carriage remains in eitherof said last mentioned positions.

4. An egg candling apparatus comprising, in combination, a carriage having means whereby a lot of eggs in definite spaced relation can be supported for candling alternatively at diiferent positions on the carriage longitudinally of its direction of travel, said means including means pivotally attached to the carriage and operable for transferring said lot of eggs from one to the other of said positions and inverting the lot as it is so transferred, means supporting the carriage for movement between two extreme positions, means preventing movement of the carriage beyond said extreme positions, and illuminating means arranged for illuminating the eggs when the lot is supported in a certain position thereover, said illuminating means being under and stationary relative to the path in which the lot is movable by the carriage, and said extreme positions of the carriage being in such relation to the illuminating means that upon transfer of saidy lot from either to the other of said positions on the carriage the lot can be brought to said certain position by the shifting of the carirage to the limit of its travel in the opposite direction to that in which the lot is so transferred.

5. An egg candling apparatus comprising, in combination, a carriage having means whereby a lot of eggs in denite spaced relation can be supported for candling alternatively at different positions on the carriage longitudinally of its 'direction of travel, said means including means pivotally attached to the carriage and operable for transferring said lot of eggs from one to the other of said positions and inverting the lot as it is so transferred, means supporting the carriage for movement between two extreme positions, means preventing movement of the carriage beyond said extreme positions, illuminating means in fixed relation to the path of travel of the carriage and with which'the eggs when transferred from either to the other of said positions on the Carriage are brought into register by the shifting of the carriage to the limit of its travel in the opposite direction to that in which the lot is so transferred, said illuminating means comprising electric lighting equipment the circuit of which is maintainable normally open, and automatic switch means controlled by the carriage for closing said circuit when the carriage reaches either of its limits of travel and maintaining the circuit closed while the carriage remains at such limit of travel.

6. An egg candling apparatus comprising'in combination, a carriage having means whereby a lot of eggs in definite spaced relation can be supported for candling alternatively at different positions on the carriage longitudinally of its direction of travel, said means including means movably attached to the carriage and operable for transferring said lot of eggs from one to the other of said positions and inverting the lot as it is so transferred, means supporting the carriage for movement between two extreme positions, means preventing movement of the carriage beyond said extreme positions, the carriage being mounted on anti-friction bearings and freely and easily movable to the opposite limits of its travel, said transferring means being so attached and movable relative to theV carriage as to impose in the transferring operation a thrust on the carriage in a direction to shift it to the limit of its travel opposite that toward which the `lot is transferred,` and illuminating means in fixed relation` to and under the path of movement of the carriage relative to which the lot is positioned for the candling of the veggs by said transferring operationrand accompanying shifting ofthe carriage. K

7. An egg candling" apparatus comprising, in

Y 18 ,Y sliiiiiiigseid supporting means/iii opposite.direc- A eggsmdggn tg Sum@ gelatpgcan be v, tions,'and means suppdrting 'andl guiding l,said for caridling alte` r tivelx@ at different loo- VSliliintllg means for moiiement relativeA tofsa'i'ci simon mene, @arr-ieee ,longitudinali-y or its ,die sei ei illiiinineieis es required for registration L0 t ayel sa@ means inhiding means ther ith of thev respective sets ofv seats in al# merablrf-eiteeiieei teme eerrieeeen@ eeerebie tem-ation. s. l fgntmnfermg. Sd 19t 3fA eggs, imm. gne to the 10. An egg Vc anellir'ig amaaratllsr Comprising, in other of; salicl pesitionsvanci inverting the lt` as Combination, a reversely' shiitablel` supporting it so transierredl means supporting lthe care meansr comprising twloesets of seats for alterna-Q riage 91; movement between two extreme poisi-v .1;Q tilelfY SllPPQl'tllg a lot'ofgeggs foroandlingand tions. means preventing movement 0f thefeeriiilludiiieimeeiisnieyeblyailaeliedlto said sub; nage beyond seid extreme pesiii'ens, the Carriage leerling -Ifieeiis er),L elelefe'r, irensfeirii'ie siielilei reinaY meunied en, eiiiirfeietieii bearings! end, from dnesei ei seei'siethefeilier .'wiilif'eeee'rnfr freely and; eesilyviewable to the opposite limits peinyin'g inversin'ofiheegg .asiatici 'n'diiridual eff itstrsifetseid; transferring means beine. se le illilmiieiers. with which thefesiiee'seisf attsehed; a d merble relative te the eeirieee es." l seeiseie, reeisireble in ,felleriietiorflb fis" ifting ireiisieirip epeie-iien e'ihrusi. seid s eiiiiis nieeiisinfeppesii'e dieeiieiis and, en iheleer` se ineeiireetieii; ifo-shift ii le,r ilie sleeps. eeniielledsbi. s edisimperiiie Iesrs erd limit of its travel op@isitjen tljiai',` toward Wliiehy they controlling theilllurn D atigg'neansfjto givillf 10i is. transferred., illur,ifi-irlati.ne` means in xed zo minstien' only while theesupprtmg means 15in relation tofanoll underthefpath ofv movementof a postionffolf holdingonfor the other of, said the oai-riage relative to Vvhiolfi,the lots poisisets of seatsV` registationkwithsaid set ofl i1ln.v iienedgfer the seedling izhe-.eeles'by seid. 'ii'eris'f Y miil'siers, and ineens supporting and 'euidirigsaid ferriiig operationalid accompanying *shiftingY of sllpgortinmaflls for novem'entr'elatwve tozsaid ilieeerriese eed Ineens forfimpesine-eereduelly easei-Oiillimiiiaiers es( required fer reeistratii increasing resistanoe to the movement of the ear;y therewith oftneirespectiiie' sets of 1 seats, all riagg as it approaclieseitlier-of its limits of tralyel,` terntafrton. l f l l 's ssisilesi reeiiebl meensalso imposing e. frieiieiifil.l x11.- *Afi este midline @iP-versies sempfisiiiepiri. resistance `tp reversey movement of the Carriage l?OIIFOYlfiifton',` aoalljaggaoldablepair of, trays' freiesliei1-limiteiirevellt l 1 so. mounted; 01.1: endklriveielly eliisliedie iiifeesri s;- e ese; eendliris arreteiii.si eempsiiegiii iisg? iQf'Wngeb-HW @mit maxisimwef$ of ccgibination ,y avqarriage having means-w kerenr a the direction df tr Vel' of the cafrriagie,v said ltfaxizs", let etfeeesineeiieiie spaced releiienfeenbe mi# @eine adepte r alternately' siippeiiine "fer e minet-iam eeiiiieee hsv-ing; ineens Wiieiebye meteen-fer; eeadlinealiemeiivelylat-different eeiidliiiee'leief egasiriL delniie spaced ielatipgii5 sitieiisfeoniiie-eerrie e leiieiiiidiiielly ef iis die se .end eiieeble fer', metiers er travel, f saai, mee-ns .ineluiiinemeeiis' merisier aiteelieelfie the eeriieeeerid'eiieieble nsferring flsaid ,lot Vfror'n,v i le, weather Yby felici in the' etant tray.- ilpoi the Seide ,seeusingfihe erersrieim te aiheriisi. Q11; the earriage in a. direetin for shifting: it yte the, limit of. its travel in trie opposite .idireeiier.i, and" stationary illuminating;L means arrange@ inter,

@F13-9 @njas-'ym a dertintg S-h'lto mediately of said extreme nositoris of the oar-L lvlmlft of 1st-S waive-L @Powie tgz-aftwwam. @ros ra'ge andl relative to which they-trays in tlfilir.A tafllsifqrg lummtgf mea-'12S mxed respective normal vpositions* on thee carriage, are,

rele @Qene'uneeriiie-seeeefm emenieriiie 1 eerrieee relative, te wliielifihe lei islPOsiiiQn-ed i411? ;efr??Sgfeghrcggamf ggsgi the .andlmgth- 'ggsibyaigirapeumg op* r limits of travel the shifting of the. carriage to eri-1a@ @QQ-Qmpanylg ism-flung o? .the can either? limit positioning the tray'more-remotev nage- 55151 Wuming-*ng He-nsf @FPU-Slug. elec from that limit for illumination of the e e b trie lighting, eqilipmerii the eireuii of Whleh Sadmmmab-ig I-nes l g s y 'magyar-Laim@ ngrmauyqpeg Ingalls-.for grafluny 12. An egg candling apparatus aecording-'to S1 mg lh? mQVQmILlit of the? 9a -ge a5 It ap" claim 1 sadusupporting `means inlnding a ^1 l`u-V v panxinginyersion of trie leegstand-@sei meeelieseiilier of iis limits Qf treYel enel series. 601, Y. f opened switches Aoperajole by `said lastw ifeoitd Iaflty Qflt.. 1935515. im@ ser@ @F553 Seats, Sal@ 91.115 meansv for. `1qsigi-gy said' eircit Yas'P tiley car "ag rllty @ng a9 llgrtl muil-W1@ QfJfJOHl and arr' reaches either bf its liirlfts` l?"t aYelf/faiiiflriilllir. lgingedhlf- Qn qu@ 51de and half on the Opp?? tamper the eireiiii elesed while. the earrieee ref. mainseisueh limitef-iievel.

9:. An eee candling apparatus, eemprisine, combination, a, reversely sliiiteble slippertiilgi meanswcempr-isila twov sets pf seats to; alterrien,V timelyy supporting a'leieieggs ier eaesilingincluding means moi/ably attaehed to said: sim.-v f por-tingvmeans ogerable fortraliserr' g1 sllGh-l. from one set ef .seats to 'the ailier with a diyidual. `illLimi-rlaters with Gli-theesize sets of seats .arereaistralele alieiiiileii 19 verting said lot or lots as they are so transferred.

13. An egg candling apparatus according to claim 1 having alight chamber, said carriage being mounted for movement over said chamber, said illuminating means comprising a set of light condensing lenses with which the eggs in either of said positions of the lot on the carriage can be registered and lighting means within said chamber, the ceiling of the light chamber being formed in part by an opaque plate member havingvopenings for passage of light in which said lenses are mounted, said lens holdingmember being removably mounted.

14. vAnegg candling apparatus comprising, in combination, a carriage, means supporting and guiding the carriage f or movement between two extreme positions, a foldable` pair of trays supported by the carriage and pivoted thereto for,

swingability about an axis transverse thereof, said trays being adapted for alternately supporting `for candling a lot of eggs in denite spaced relation andv operable for transferringsaid lot from one to the other by folding the empty tray upon the one supporting the eggs and swinging the two in folded relation to an inverted position, the trays being normally in unfolded relation and resting on the vcarriageat opposite sides of said axis and in line in the direction of travel, the carriage ybeing shiftable in either direction between said twov extreme positions, means preventing movement kof the carriage beyond said extreme positions, and illuminatingmeans relative to which the trays in alternation. can be positioned to support the eggs for illumination by shifting the carriage alternately to positions inV opposite relations to the illuminating means, said means being in definite relation tothe path of Y ported by the carriage and pivoted thereto for swingability about an axis transverse thereof, said trays being adapted for alternately supporting for candling a lot of eggs in definite spaced relationA and operable for transferring said lot from one to the other by foldingl the empty tray:

upon the one supporting the eggs and swinging the two in folded relation to an inverted position, the trays being normally in unfolded relation and resting on the carriage at opposite sides of said axis and in line in the d-irection of travel, the carriage being shiftable in either direction between said two extreme positions, means preventing movementl of the carriage beyond said extreme positions, and means for illuminating the eggs arranged under the path of the trays in a medial position relative to said extreme positions of the carriage, movement of Ithe carriage alternately to said extreme positions disposing the trays in alternation to support the lot of eggs over the illuminating means.

16. An eggcandling apparatus comprising, in combination, a carriage, means supporting and guiding the carriage for movement between two extreme positions, a foldable pair of trays supported by the carriage and pivoted thereto for swingability about an axis'transverse thereof, said trays being adapted for alternately supporting for candling a lot of eggs in definite spaced relation and operable for transferring said lot from one to the other by folding the empty trayl between said twoy extreme positions, means'pre-v venting movement of the carriage beyond said extreme positions, means for illuminating the eggs arranged under the path of the trays in a medial position relative to said extreme positions` of the' carriage, movement'of'the carriage alternately to Ysaid extreme positions disposing theY trays in alternation to support the lotof eggs over the illuminating means, and carriage-con trolled means controlling the illuminating means to give illumination only whenthe carriage is inr either of said extreme positions.

17. An egg candling apparatus comprising, in combination, a carriage, means supporting and guiding the carriage for Amovement between two extreme positions, a foldable pair of trays supportedby thencarriage and pivoted thereto for I swingability about yan axis transverse thereof,

said Itrays being adapted for alternately supporting for candling a lot of eggs in definite spaced relation and operable for transferring said lot from one to` the other by folding the empty tray upon the one supporting the eggs and Vswinging the two in folded vrelationV to an inverted position, the trays being normally in un-v folded relation and resting on'the carriage at opposite sides of vsaid axis and inline in the direction of travel, the carriageY being shiftable-in either direction between said two extreme positions, means preventing movement of the carriage beyond said extreme positions, movement'of the carriagalternately to said extreme positions disposing vthe trays in alternation to support said lot in a certain position in the path of the trays, and means in 'stationary relation to said path for illuminating the eggs when the -lot is' supported in said certain position' by either' tray.

18. Anegg candling apparatus comprising, in

combinationa carriage, means supporting andV guiding the carriage for movement between two extreme positions, a foldable pair of trays 'sup'- ported by the .carriage and pivoted thereto for swingability about an axis transverse thereof, saidtrays being adapted for alternately supporting for candling a lot of eggs in definite spaced relation and operable for transferring said lot from one to the other byfolding the empty tray upon .the one supporting the eggs and swinging the two in folded relation to an inverted posi-- l tion', the traysbeing normally in unfolded relation and resting on the carriage at opposite sides of said axis and in line in the direction of travel," the carriage being shiftable in either direction' between said two extreme positions, means preventing movement of the carriage beyond said extreme positions, movement of the carriage alternately to said extreme positions disposing `the trays in alternation to support said lot in a cerriage is in either of saidextreme positions.

19. An egg'candling apparatus comprisingini combination, a carriage, means supportingY and guiding the carriage for movement lbetween twocontrolling said illuminatingV means to give illumination only when the car ported by the carriage and pivoted thereto for swingability about an axis transverse thereof, said trays being adapted for alternately supporting for candling a lot of eggs in definite spaced relation and operable for transferring said lot from one to the other by folding -theempty tray upon the one supporting the eggs and swinging the two in folded vrelation to an inverted position, the trays being normally in unfolded relation and restingon the carriage `at opposite sides of said axis and in line in the direction of travel, the carriage being shiftable-in either direction between said two extreme positions, means preventing movement of the carriage beyond said extremel positions, the distance through which the carriage is shiftable in opposite directions being sufficient, to permit disposing the trays in alternation to support said lot in a certain position in the path of the trays, and means in stationary relation to said path for illuminating the eggs when the lot is supported in said certain position by either tray.

20. An egg candling apparatus comprising, in

combination, a carriage, means supporting and guiding the carriage for movement between two extreme positions, a foldable pair of trays supported by the carriagefand pivoted thereto for swingability about an axis transverse thereof, said trays being adapted for alternately supporting for candling a lot of eggs in definite spaced relation and operable for transferring said lot from one to the other by folding the empty tray upon the one supporting the eggs and swinging the two in folded relation to an inverted position, the -trays being normally in unfolded relation and resting on the carriage atopposite sides of said axis and in line in the direction of travel, the carriage being shiftable in either direction between said two extreme positions, means preventing movement of lthe carriage beyond said extreme positions, the distance through which the carriage is shiftable in opposite directions being suflicient to permit disposing the trays in alternation -to support said lot in a certain position in the path of the trays, means in stationary relation to said path for illuminating the eggs when the lot is supported in said' certain position by either tray, and carriage-controlled means controlling the illuminating means to give illumination only when the carriage is in either of its positions for supporting said lot in said certain position.

21. An egg candling apparatus comprising, in combination, a carriage, means supporting and guiding the carriage for reciprocation in a horizontally disposed path, a foldable pair of traysl means for illuminating the eggs arranged under` the path of the trays over which said lot of eggs can be supported by either tray, the trays in alternation being disposable to support said lot over the illuminating means by shifting the carriage alternately to positions in opposite relations to the illuminating means.

22. An egg candling apparatus comprising, in combination, a carriage, means supporting and guiding the carriage for reciprooation in a hori-A zontally disposed path, a foldable pair of traysV sup-ported by the carriage and pivoted thereto for swingability about an axis transverse thereof,

Vsaid trays being adapted for alternately support- 'from one to the other by folding the empty tray' upon the one supporting the eggs and swinging the two in folded relation to an inverted position,

the trays being normally in unfolded relation and resting on the carriage at opposite sides of said axis and in line in the direction of travel, means for illuminating the eggs, arranged under the path of the trays over-which said lot of eggs can be supported by either tray, the trays in alternation being disposable to support said lot over the illuminating means by shifting the carriage alternately to positions in opposite relations to the illuminating means, and carriage-controlled means controlling said illuminating means to give illumination only when the carriage is in either of its positions to support said lot over the illuminating means.

- 23. An egg candling apparatus comprising, in combination, a carriage, means supportingand guiding the carriage for reciprocation in a horizontallydisposed path, a foldable pair of trays supported by the carriage and pivoted thereto for swingability about an axis transverse thereof, said trays being adapted for alternately supporting for candling a lot of eggs in definite spaced relation and operable for transferring said lot from one to the other by folding the empty tray upon the one supporting the eggs and swinging the two in folded relation to an inverted position, the trays being normally in unfolded relation and resting on the carriage at opposite sides of said axis and in line in the direction of travel, and means-in stationary relation to the path of the trays for illuminating the eggs when ,the lot is supported in acertain position in said path, the trays in alternation being disposable to support said lot in said certain position by shifting the carriage alternately to certain positions in opposite relations to the illuminating means.

24. An egg candling apparatus comprising, in combination, a carriage, means supporting and guiding the carriage for reciprocation in a horizontally disposed path, a foldable pair of trays supported bythe carriage and pivoted-thereto for swingability about an axis transverse thereof, said trays being adapted for alternately supporting for candling a lot of eggs in definite spaced relation and operable for transferring said lot from one to the other by folding the empty tray upon the one supporting the eggs and swinging the two in folded relation to an inverted position, the trays being normally in unfolded relation and resting on the carriage at opposite sides of said axis and in line in the direction of travel, means in stationary relation to the path of the trays for illuminating the eggs-when the lot is supported in a certain position in saidy path, the trays in alternation being disposable to support said lot in said certain position by shifting the carriage alternately to certain positions in opposite relations Ito the illuminating means, and carriage-controlled means controlling the illuminating means to give illumination only when the carriage is in either of its said positions.

ELY BRAMSON. 

